Synthetic methylmalonyl-coa mutase transgene for the treatment of mut class methylmalonic acidemia (mma)

ABSTRACT

Synthetic polynucleotides encoding human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (synMUT) and exhibiting augmented expression in cell culture and/or in a subject are described herein. An adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy vector encoding synMUT under the control of a liver-specific promoter (AAV2/8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT-RBG) successfully rescued the neonatal lethal phenotype displayed by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase-deficient mice, lowered circulating methylmalonic acid levels in the treated animals, and resulted in prolonged hepatic expression of the product of synMUT transgene in vivo, human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT).

PRIORITY DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/773,885, filed Sep. 9, 2015, which is a national phase entry pursuantto 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No.PCT/US2014/028045, filed Mar. 14, 2014, which application claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/792,081, filed Mar. 15,2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

The instant application was made with government support; the governmenthas certain rights in this invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING DATA

The Sequence Listing text document filed herewith, created Feb. 20,2014, size 13 kilobytes, and named“6137NHGRI6PCT_Sequence_Listing_ST25.txt,” is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to engineering of the humanmethylmalonyl-coA mutase gene so as to enhance its expression ineukaryotic cells. Compared to the natural human MUT gene, the subjectsynthetic gene sequences (synMUT) are codon-optimized to enhanceexpression upon administration.

BACKGROUND

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder causedby defects in the mitochondrial localized enzyme methylmalonyl-CoAmutase (MUT) (Manoli, et al. 2010 Methylmalonic Acidemia (in GeneReviews, eds. Pagon, et al.)). The estimated incidence of MMA is 1 in25,000-48,000. MUT is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion ofL-methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. This reaction is one of severalenzymatic reactions required to metabolize branch chain amino acids, oddchain fatty acids, and propionate produced by the gut flora (Chandler,et al. 2005 Mol Genet Metab 86:34-43). MUT deficiency, the most commoncause of MMA, is characterized by the accumulation of methylmalonic acidand other disease-related metabolites. The disease is managed withdietary restriction of amino acid precursors and cofactors but lacksdefinitive therapy. MMA can lead to metabolic instability, seizures,strokes, and kidney failure, and it can be lethal even when patients arebeing properly managed, underscoring the need for new therapies for thisdisease. Even though MMA is rare, all babies born in the USA arescreened for this condition as newborns, emphasizing the need to developbetter therapies.

SUMMARY

As discussed above, the only treatments for MMA currently available aredietary restrictions. Patients still become metabolically unstable whileon diet restriction and experience disease progression, despite medicaltherapy. These episodes result in numerous hospitalizations and can befatal. The synthetic human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (synMUT) transgenecan be used as a drug, via viral- or non-viral mediated gene delivery,to restore MUT function in MMA patients, prevent metabolic instability,and ameliorate disease progression. Because this enzyme may also beimportant in other disorders of branched chain amino acid oxidation,gene delivery of synthetic MUT gene could be used to treat conditionsother than MUT MMA.

Additionally, the synMUT transgene can be used for the in vitroproduction of MUT for use in enzyme replacement therapy for MMA. Enzymereplacement therapy is accomplished by administration of the syntheticMUT protein orally, sub-cutaneously, intra-muscularly, intravenously, orby other therapeutic delivery routes.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to a syntheticmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT) polynucleotide (synMUT) selected from thegroup consisting of:

-   -   a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ.        ID NO:1;    -   b) a polynucleotide having the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID        NO:1;    -   c) a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence with at least        about 80% identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1;    -   d) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid        sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or an amino acid sequence substantially        identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the        polynucleotide does not have the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID        NO:3; and    -   e) a polynucleotide encoding an active fragment of the        methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT) protein, wherein the        polynucleotide in its entirety does not share 100% identity with        a portion of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.

In one embodiment, the fragment includes only amino acid residues33-750, which is encoded between nucleotides 63-2250 in synMUT, andwhich represents the active, processed form of MUT.

By active can be meant, for example, the enzyme's ability to catalyzethe isomerization of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. The activity canbe assayed using methods well-known in the art (as described in thecontext of protein function, below).

In one embodiment of a synthetic polynucleotide according to theinvention, the nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide having theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or an amino acid sequence with atleast about 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

In another embodiment, the synthetic polynucleotide exhibits augmentedexpression relative to the expression of naturally occurring humanmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase polynucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) in asubject. In yet another embodiment, the synthetic polynucleotide havingaugmented expression comprises a nucleic acid sequence comprising codonsthat have been optimized relative to the naturally occurring humanmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase polynucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3). In stillanother embodiment of a synthetic polynucleotide according to theinvention, the nucleic acid sequence has at least about 80% of lesscommonly used codons replaced with more commonly used codons.

In one embodiment of a synthetic polynucleotide according to theinvention, the polynucleotide is a polynucleotide having a nucleic acidsequence with at least about 85% identity to the nucleic acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 1. In another embodiment, the polynucleotide is apolynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence with at least about 90%identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In still anotherembodiment, the polynucleotide is a polynucleotide having a nucleic acidsequence with at least about 95% identity to the nucleic acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:1.

In one embodiment of a synthetic polynucleotide according to theinvention, the nucleic acid sequence is a DNA sequence. In anotherembodiment, the nucleic acid sequence is a RNA sequence or peptidemodified nucleic acid sequence. In another embodiment, the syntheticpolynucleotide according to the invention encodes an active MUTfragment, amino acids 33-750 of synMUT, corresponding to base pairs67-2250 in synMUT.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to an expression vectorcomprising the herein-described synthetic polynucleotide. In anotherembodiment of a vector according to the invention, the syntheticpolynucleotide is operably linked to an expression control sequence. Instill another embodiment, the synthetic polynucleotide iscodon-optimized.

In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a method of treating adisease or condition mediated by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase or low levelsof methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity, the method comprisingadministering to a subject the herein-described syntheticpolynucleotide.

In still a further aspect, the invention is directed to a method oftreating a disease or condition mediated by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase,the method comprising administering to a subject a methylmalonyl-CoAmutase produced using the synthetic polynucleotide described herein. Inanother embodiment of a method of treatment according to the invention,the disease or condition is methylmalonic acidemia (MMA).

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a composition comprising thesynthetic polynucleotide of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a transgenic animalwhose genome comprises a polynucleotide sequence encodingmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase or a functional fragment thereof. In stillanother aspect, the invention is directed to a method for producing sucha transgenic animal, comprising: providing an exogenous expressionvector comprising a polynucleotide comprising a promoter operably linkedto a polynucleotide encoding methylmalonyl-CoA mutase or a functionalfragment thereof; introducing the vector into a fertilized oocyte; andtransplanting the oocyte into a female animal.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a transgenic animal whosegenome comprises the synthetic polynucleotide described herein. Inanother aspect, the invention is directed to a method for producing sucha transgenic animal, comprising: providing an exogenous expressionvector comprising a polynucleotide comprising a promoter operably linkedto the synthetic polynucleotide described herein; introducing the vectorinto a fertilized oocyte; and transplanting the oocyte into a femaleanimal.

Methods for producing transgenic animals are known in the art andinclude, without limitation, transforming embryonic stem cells in tissueculture, injecting the transgene into the pronucleus of a fertilizedanimal egg (DNA microinjection), genetic/genome engineering, viraldelivery (for example, retrovirus-mediated gene transfer).

Transgenic animals according to the invention include, withoutlimitation, rodent (mouse, rat, squirrel, guinea pig, hamster, beaver,porcupine), frog, ferret, rabbit, chicken, pig, sheep, goat, cowprimate, and the like.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to the preclinicalamelioration or rescue from the disease state, for example,methylmalonic acidemia, that the afflicted subject exhibits. This mayinclude symptoms, such as lethargy, lethality, metabolic acidosis, andbiochemical perturbations, such as increased levels of methylmalonicacid in blood, urine, and body fluids.

In still another aspect, the invention is directed to a method forproducing a genetically engineered animal as a source of recombinantsynMUT. In another aspect, genome editing, or genome editing withengineered nucleases (GEEN) may be performed with the synMUT nucleotidesof the present invention allowing synMUT DNA to be inserted, replaced,or removed from a genome using artificially engineered nucleases. Anyknown engineered nuclease may be used such as Zinc finger nucleases(ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), theCRISPR/Cas system, and engineered meganuclease re-engineered homingendonucleases. Alternately, the nucleotides of the present inventionincluding synMUT, in combination with a CASP/CRISPR, ZFN, or TALEN canbe used to engineer correction at the locus in a patient's cell eitherin vivo or ex vivo, then, in one embodiment, use that corrected cell,such as a fibroblast or lymphoblast, to create an iPS or other stem cellfor use in cellular therapy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the list of codon frequencies in the human proteome.

FIG. 2 illustrates a codon-optimized synMUT (SEQ ID NO:1) of the subjectinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates naturally occurring Homo sapiens MUT amino acidsequence (SEQ ID NO:2) and naturally occurring Homo sapiens MUT gene(SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 4 illustrates an alignment of MUT (SEQ ID NO:3) with the subjectcodon-optimized synMUT sequence (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 5 illustrates the exonic variants seen in MUT that are present insynMUT. The numeral 1 displayed indicate changes seen in MUT in an exomeanalysis that are found in synMUT. The numeral 2 displayed in the figureindicates unique synMUT variants at a position where MUT variants exist.

FIG. 6 illustrates the expression of MUT protein following transfectionof HEK-293 cells in vitro with green fluorescent protein (GFP),optimized human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase polynucleotide (synMUT) (SEQ IDNO:1), or naturally-occurring human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase gene (MUT)(SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 7 presents a map of the AAV-HCR-hAAT-synMUT construct.

FIG. 8 illustrates the increased survival of Mut^(−/−) mice aftertreatment with the AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT construct.

FIG. 9 illustrates the reduction in circulating metabolites in Mut miceafter treatment with the AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT construct.

FIG. 10 shows expression of MUT in the liver after AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUTgene therapy.

FIG. 11 shows an incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma following AAVDelivery-Mut+/− mice were either untreated (n=51), treated with 1-2×10¹¹GC of AAV8-CBA-MUT (n=13) or 1-2×10¹¹ GC of AAV8-hAAT-synMUT (n=5) byintrahepatic injection at birth. *=P<0.01, NS=not statisticallysignificant from untreated control group.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments ofthe invention. While the invention will be described in conjunction withthe enumerated embodiments, it will be understood that the invention isnot intended to be limited to those embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, andequivalents that may be included within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the claims.

One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similaror equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in and arewithin the scope of the practice of the present invention. The presentinvention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described.

All publications, published patent documents, and patent applicationscited in this application are indicative of the level of skill in theart(s) to which the application pertains. All publications, publishedpatent documents, and patent applications cited herein are herebyincorporated by reference to the same extent as though each individualpublication, published patent document, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated as being incorporated byreference.

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices,and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can beused in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods,devices, and materials are now described.

As used in this application, including the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references, unless the contentclearly dictates otherwise, and are used interchangeably with “at leastone” and “one or more.” Thus, reference to “a polynucleotide” includes aplurality of polynucleotides or genes, and the like.

As used herein, the term “about” represents an insignificantmodification or variation of the numerical value such that the basicfunction of the item to which the numerical value relates is unchanged.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “contains,” “containing,” and any variations thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process,method, product-by-process, or composition of matter that comprises,includes, or contains an element or list of elements does not includeonly those elements but may include other elements not expressly listedor inherent to such process, method, product-by-process, or compositionof matter.

In the context of synMUT, the terms “gene” and “transgene” are usedinterchangeably. A “transgene” is a gene that has been transferred fromone organism to another.

The term “subject”, as used herein, refers to a domesticated animal, afarm animal, a primate, a mammal, for example, a human.

The phrase “substantially identical”, as used herein, refers to an aminoacid sequence exhibiting high identity with a reference amino acidsequence (for example, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identity) and retaining thebiological activity of interest (the enzyme activity).

The polynucleotide sequences encoding synMUT allow for increasedexpression of the synMUT gene relative to naturally occurring human MUTsequences. These polynucleotide sequences are designed to not alter thenaturally occurring human MUT amino acid sequence. They are alsoengineered or optimized to have increased transcriptional,translational, and protein refolding efficacy. This engineering isaccomplished by using human codon biases, evaluating GC, CpG, andnegative GpC content, optimizing the interaction between the codon andanti-codon, and eliminating cryptic splicing sites and RNA instabilitymotifs. Because the sequences are novel, they facilitate detection usingnucleic acid-based assays.

As used herein, “MUT” refers to human methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase,and “Mut” refers to mouse methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase. This proteincatalyzes the isomerization of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. Thisprocess requires 5′-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, a vitamin B12 derivative.Succinyl-CoA is a component of the citric acid cycle or tricarboxylicacid cycle (TCA). The gene encoding naturally occurring humanmethylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase gene is referred to as MUT. Thepolynucleotide encoding synthetic MUT is known as synMUT.

Naturally occurring human MUT is referred to as MUT, while synthetic MUTis designated as synMUT, even though the two are identical at the aminoacid level.

“Codon optimization” refers to the process of altering a naturallyoccurring polynucleotide sequence to enhance expression in the targetorganism, e.g., humans. In the subject application, the human MUT genehas been altered to replace codons that occur less frequently in humangenes with those that occur more frequently and/or with codons that arefrequently found in highly expressed human genes.

As used herein, “determining”, “determination”, “detecting”, or the likeare used interchangeably herein and refer to the detecting orquantitation (measurement) of a molecule using any suitable method,including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence, chemiluminescence,radioactive labeling, surface plasmon resonance, surface acoustic waves,mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomicforce microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, electrochemicaldetection methods, nuclear magnetic resonance, quantum dots, and thelike. “Detecting” and its variations refer to the identification orobservation of the presence of a molecule in a biological sample, and/orto the measurement of the molecule's value.

As used herein, a “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any andall solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungalagents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that arephysiologically compatible. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptablecarriers include one or more of water, saline, phosphate bufferedsaline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol and the like, as well ascombinations thereof. In certain embodiments, it may be preferable toinclude isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such asmannitol, sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition.

A “therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount effective, atdosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desiredtherapeutic result. A therapeutically effective amount of a vectorcomprising the synthetic polynucleotide of the invention may varyaccording to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight ofthe individual, and the ability of the vector to elicit a desiredresponse in the individual. A therapeutically effective amount is alsoone in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the vector areoutweighed by the therapeutically beneficial effects. A“prophylactically effective amount” refers to an amount effective, atdosages and for periods of time necessary, to achieve the desiredprophylactic result. Typically, since a prophylactic dose is used insubjects prior to or at an earlier stage of disease, theprophylactically effective amount will be less than the therapeuticallyeffective amount.

Dosage regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimum desired response(e.g., a therapeutic or prophylactic response). For example, a singlebolus may be administered, several divided doses may be administeredover time, or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased asindicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation. It isespecially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosageunit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosageunit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited asunitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; each unitcontaining a predetermined quantity of the synthetic polynucleotide or afragment thereof according to the invention calculated to produce thedesired therapeutic effect in association with a pharmaceutical carrier.

Additional Embodiments of the Invention The Synthetic Polynucleotide

In one embodiment of the invention, codon optimization was employed tocreate a highly active and synthetic MUT allele. This method involvesdetermining the relative frequency of a codon in the protein-encodinggenes in the human genome. For example, isoleucine can be encoded byAUU, AUC, or AUA, but in the human genome, AUC (47%), AUU (36%), and AUA(17%) are variably used to encode isoleucine in proteins. Therefore, inthe proper sequence context, AUA would be changed to AUC to allow thiscodon to be more efficiently translated in human cells. FIG. 1 presentsthe codon usage statistics for a large fraction of humanprotein-encoding genes and serves as the basis for changing the codonsthroughout the MUT cDNA.

Thus, the invention comprises synthetic polynucleotides encodingmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT) selected from the group consisting of thenucleic acid sequence of FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:1) and a polynucleotidesequence having at least about 80% identity thereto. For thosepolynucleotides having at least about 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:1, inadditional embodiments, they have at least 85%, at least 90%, at least95%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identity.

In one embodiment, the subject synthetic polynucleotide encodes apolypeptide with 100% identity to the naturally occurring human MUTprotein, alternatively including naturally occurring alleles (FIG. 3).BLASTN alignment of MUT (NM_000255.3) with synMUT reveals 1721/2253(76%) identities (FIG. 4); 532 bases are present in synMUT and not inMUT (NM_000255.3) (FIG. 4). To further validate that the synMUT sequenceselected was sufficiently unique, 8600 exomes deposited in the NHLBIexome variant server (http://evs.gs.washington.edu/EVS/) were analyzedusing NCBI's Align Specialized BLAST to compare the two sequences. 67naturally occurring nucleotide changes in the MUT coding sequenceresulted in synonymous alleles, missense variants, and missensemutations (Table 1). At nine of these 67 variant locations, synMUTpossessed unique nucleotides that were not present in the exome database(FIG. 5). The synMUT therefore encodes 58 variants, present at variablefrequencies (Table 1), identified in the exome database, and 474 uniquebase pairs, not present in the 8600 human exomes compared to MUT(NM_000255.3).

TABLE 1 Variants in syn-MUT not observed in the Exome data base AlleleAllelles Present Non- on Coding Coding Variant Strand Strand All GVSAmino Protein cDNA Position Bases syn-MUT Allele # MAF (%) Function AcidPos. Pos. 6.49427127 C/T A C = 1/T = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missenseARG, GLN  18/751  53 6:49427030 G/C G G = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077missense HIS, GLN  50/751  150 6:49426975 C/T A C = 39/T = 129670.3837/0.1362/0.2999 missense VAL, ILE  69/751  205 6:49426939 G/A C G =1/A = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 coding-synonymous none  81/751  2416:49426895 C/T T C = 3/T = 13003 0.0/0.0681/0.0231 coding-synonymousnone  95/751  285 6:49426896 A/G A = 3/G = 13003 0.0/0.0681/0.0231missense LEU, PRO  95/751  284 6:49426853 T/C G T = 1/C = 130050.0116/0.0/0.0077 coding-synonymous none 109/751  327 6:49426814 C/G T C= 1/G = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense LEU, PHE 122/751  3666:49425764 T/C G T = 15/C = 12989 0.0/0.3404/0.1153 coding-synonymousnone 131/751  393 6.49425601 C/T A C = 1/T = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077missense VAL, MET 186/751  556 6:49425591 C/T A C = 3/T = 130030.0/0.0681/0.0231 missense SER, ASN 189/751  566 6:49425537 A/C G A =1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense VAL, GLY 207/751  620 6:49425521T/C A T = 7823/C = 5181 38.3578/42.7372/39.8416 coding-synonymous none212/751  636 6.49425446 C/T A C = 138/T = 12854 1.3388/0.5225/1.0622coding-synonymous none 237/751  711 6:49425436 C/T A C = 1/T = 129950.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense VAL, ILE 241/751  721 6:49423948 A/G C A =1/G = 13003 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 coding-synonymous none 252/751  7566:49423923 C/T A C = 1/T = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense VAL, ILE261/751  781 6:49423868 C/T A C = 12/T = 12994 0.0/0.2724/0.0923missense CYS, TYR 279/751  836 6:49423826 C/T A C = 13/T = 129930.1395/0.0227/0.1 missense ARG, GLN 293/751  878 6:49421373 T/C G T =2/C = 13004 0.0/0.0454/0.0154 missense ILE, MET 336/751 1008 6:49421345T/G C T = 1/G = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense ILE, LEU 346/751 10366:49419403 G/T A G = 1/T = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense PRO, THR370/751 1108 6:49419396 G/A T G = 6/A = 13000 0.0698/0.0/0.0461 missenseTHR, ILE 372/751 1115 6.49419386 T/C G T = 22/C = 129840.2442/0.0227/0.1692 missense ILE, MET 375/751 1125 6:49419305 C/A T C =1/A = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 coding-synonymous none 402/751 12066:49419241 A/G C A = 1/G = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense SER, PRO424/751 1272 6:49419214 G/A T G = 1/A = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missenseARG, CYS 433/751 1297 6.49419206 A/T A A = 1/T = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077coding-synonymous none 435/751 1305 6:49416573 T/C G T = 1/C = 130050.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense GLN, ARG 467/751 1400 6:49416571 C/T A C =1/T = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense VAL, ILE 468/751 1402 6:49416556A/C G A = 2/C = 13004 0.0233/0.0/0.0154 missense SER, ALA 473/751 14176:49416552 T/C G T = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense GLN, ARG474/751 1421 6:49415450 C/T A C = 1/T = 12997 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missenseGLY, ASP 498/751 1493 6:49415448 T/C G T = 1343/C = 1165510.5655/9.8774/10.3324 missense THR, ALA 499/751 1495 6:49415432 C/G C C= 1/G = 12999 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense GLY, ALA 504/751 15116.49415384 G/T A G = 1/T = 12997 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense-near- THR,LYS 520/751 1559 splice 6:49412463 C/T A C = 1/T = 130050.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense ARG, LYS 522/751 1566 6:49412458 C/T T C =1/T = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense GLY, SER 524/751 1570 6:49412433T/C G T = 4077/C = 8929 36.6047/21.0849/31.3471 missense HIS, ARG532/751 1595 6.49412430 T/C G T = 1/C = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missenseTYR, CYS 533/751 1598 6:49412421 A/G C A = 1/G = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077missense VAL, ALA 536/751 1607 6:49412399 A/G C A = 56/G = 129500.6047/0.0908/0.4306 coding-synonymous none 543/751 1629 6:49412398 T/CG T = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense ARG, GLY 544/751 16306:49409627 T/C C T = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 coding-synonymousnone 578/751 1734 6:49409598 NC G A = 3/C = 13003 0.0/0.0681/0.0231missense LEU, ARG 588/751 1763 6:49409599 A/G A A = 16/G = 129900.0/0.3631/0.123 missense CYS, ARG 588/751 1762 6:49409584 G/C G G = 2/C= 13004 0.0/0.0454/0.0154 missense GLN, GLU 593/751 1777 6.49409569 C/TA C = 2/T = 13004 0.0/0.0454/0.0154 missense ALA, THR 598/751 17926:49408037 T/C A T = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense HIS, ARG613/751 1839 6:49408008 T/C G T = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missenseARG, GLY 623/751 1867 6:49407995 C/T A C = 1/T = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077missense ARG, HIS 627/751 1880 6.49407986 T/C G T = 1/C = 130050.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense GLU, GLY 630/751 1889 6:49403334 G/A A G =1/A = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 coding-synonymous none 653/751 19596:49403324 A/C G A = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense LEU, VAL657/751 1969 6:49403301 T/C T T = 21/C = 12985 0.0465/0.3858/0.1615coding-synonymous none 664/751 1992 6:49403302 AG C A = 6/G = 130000.0698/0.0/0.0461 missense VAL, ALA 664/751 1991 6:49403282 C/T G C =7894/T = 5112 38.3256/41.2165/39.3049 missense VAL, ILE 671/751 20116:49403268 G/A A G = 1/A = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 coding-synonymousnone 675/751 2025 6:49403270 T/C G T = 1/C = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077missense THR, ALA 675/751 2023 6.49403267 T/C G T = 1/C = 130050.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense THR, ALA 676/751 2026 6:49403260 C/T A C =1/T = 13005 0.0/0.0227/0.0077 missense ARG, HIS 678/751 2033 6:49403194T/A T T = 1/A = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense LYS, MET 700/751 20996:49399544 A/C G A = 3/C = 13003 0.0/0.0681/0.0231 missense VAL, GLY717/751 2150 6.49399498 A/G A A = 1/G = 13005 0.0116/0.0/0.0077coding-synonymous none 732/751 2196 6:49399476 T/C G T = 1/C = 130050.0116/0.0/0.0077 missense LYS, GLU 740/751 2218

In another aspect, SEQ ID NO:3 encodes MUT protein that has 100%identity with the naturally occurring human MUT protein, or that has atleast 90% amino acid identity to the naturally occurring human MUTprotein. In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide encodes MUTprotein that has at least 95% amino acid identity to naturally occurringhuman MUT protein.

In one embodiment, a polypeptide according to the invention retains atleast 90% of the naturally occurring human MUT protein function, i.e.,the capacity to catalyze the conversion of L-methylmalonyl-CoA tosuccinyl-CoA. In another embodiment, the encoded MUT protein retains atleast 95% of the naturally occurring human MUT protein function. Thisprotein function can be measured, for example, via the efficacy torescue a neonatal lethal phenotype in Mut knock-out mice (Chandler, etal. 2010 Mol Ther 18:11-6) (FIG. 9), the lowering of circulatingmetabolites including methylmalonic acid in a disease model of MMA(Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther 18:11-6; Carrillo-Carrasco, et al. 2010Hu Gene Ther 21:1147-54; Senac, et al. 2012 Gene Ther 19:385-91) (FIG.10), the measurement of whole body (Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther18:11-6; Senac, et al. 2012 Gene Ther 19:385-91) orhepatic¹-C-¹³propionate oxidative capacity (Carrillo-Carrasco, et al.2010 Hu Gene Ther 21:1147-54), or the correction of macromolecular¹-C-¹⁴propionate incorporation in cell culture (Chandler, et al. 2007BMC Med Genet 8:64).

In some embodiments, the synthetic polynucleotide exhibits improvedexpression relative to the expression of naturally occurring humanmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase polynucleotide sequence. The improvedexpression is due to the polynucleotide comprising codons that have beenoptimized relative to the naturally occurring human methylmalonyl-CoAmutase polynucleotide sequence. In one aspect, the syntheticpolynucleotide has at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at leastabout 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%,at least about 55%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at leastabout 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80% of less commonly usedcodons replaced with more commonly used codons. In additionalembodiments, the polynucleotide has at least 85%, 90%, or 95%replacement of less commonly used codons with more commonly used codons,and demonstrate equivalent or enhanced expression of MUT as compared toSEQ ID NO:3

In some embodiments, the synthetic polynucleotide sequences of theinvention preferably encode a polypeptide that retains at least about80% of the enhanced MUT expression (as demonstrated by expression of thepolynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:1 in an appropriate host.) In additionalembodiments, the polypeptide retains at least 85%, 90%, or 95% or 100%of the enhanced expression observed with the polynucleotide of SEQ IDNO:1.

In designing the synMUT of the present invention, the followingconsiderations were balanced. For example, the fewer changes that aremade to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, decreases the potentialof altering the secondary structure of the sequence, which can have asignificant impact on gene expression. The introduction of undesirablerestriction sites is also reduced, facilitating the subcloning of MUTinto the plasmid expression vector. However, a greater number of changesto the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 allows for more convenientidentification of the translated and expressed message, e.g. mRNA, invivo. Additionally, greater number of changes to the nucleotide sequenceof SEQ ID NO:3 provides for increased likelihood of greater expression.These considerations were balanced when arriving at SEQ ID NO:1. Thepolynucleotide sequences encoding synMUT allow for increased expressionof the synMUT gene relative to naturally occurring human MUT sequences.They are also engineered to have increased transcriptional,translational, and protein refolding efficacy. This engineering isaccomplished by using human codon biases, evaluating GC, CpG, andnegative GpC content, optimizing the interaction between the codon andanti-codon, and eliminating cryptic splicing sites and RNA instabilitymotifs. Because the sequences are novel, they facilitate detection usingnucleic acid-based assays.

MUT has a total of 750 amino acids and synMUT contains approximately 750codons corresponding to said amino acids. Of these codons, in SEQ IDNO:1, approximately 463 codons are changed from that of the naturalhuman MUT, however, as described, SEQ ID NO:1, despite changes from SEQID NO:3, codes for the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 for MUT. Codonsfor SEQ ID NO:1 are changed, in accordance with the equivalent aminoacid positions of SEQ ID NO:2, at positions 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 52, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65, 67,68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 90, 92, 93, 95,96, 97, 98, 100, 103, 106, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112, 113, 117, 119, 120,122, 128, 129, 130, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 141, 134, 147, 149, 150,151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 160, 162, 164, 166, 170, 171, 173,174, 177, 179, 180, 183, 184, 185, 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 194, 195,196, 198, 199, 200, 201, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 210, 211, 212, 213,214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 227, 228, 230,234, 235, 241, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 254, 255, 256,257, 220, 262, 263, 264, 270, 271, 272, 273, 278, 279, 280, 281, 284,285, 286, 287, 289, 290, 292, 294, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304,305, 306, 308, 312, 314, 315, 316, 318, 319, 320, 323, 325, 326, 328,330, 332, 333, 335, 337, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350,351, 352, 355, 357, 358, 360, 362, 363, 364, 365, 369, 370, 372, 373,377, 378, 379, 381, 382, 384, 385, 388, 389, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396,397, 398, 400, 401, 403, 405, 406, 407, 409, 411, 412, 413, 414, 416,417, 418, 419, 420, 422, 424, 427, 432, 433, 434, 436, 437, 438, 432,434, 435, 439, 450, 453, 456, 457, 458, 459, 462, 463, 464, 466, 467,468, 469, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483,485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 494, 495, 499, 500, 502, 504, 505, 507, 508,509, 511, 512, 513, 516, 517, 518, 520, 523, 524, 525, 527, 528, 529,530, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 542, 544, 545, 547, 548,551, 553, 555, 556, 558, 560, 561, 563, 566, 567, 570, 571, 572, 573,574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 581, 584, 585, 586, 588, 590, 591, 592, 594,597, 598, 599, 600 604, 605, 606, 609, 610, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616,617, 618, 619, 621, 624, 625, 626, 628, 629, 633, 635, 636, 637, 638,640, 641, 642, 644, 646, 627, 630, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 661,662, 663, 664, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 677, 679,681, 682, 683, 686, 689, 691, 692, 693, 694, 696, 697, 698, 701, 702,703, 705, 707, 710, 711, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722,723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 740,743, 745, 746, 748, 749, 750 of SEQ ID NO:2, relative to the naturalhuman sequence SEQ ID NO:3. In this embodiment, the amino acid sequencefor natural human MUT has been retained.

It can be appreciated that partial reversion of the designed synMUT tocodons that are found in MUT can be expected to result in nucleic acidsequences that, when incorporated into appropriate vectors, can alsoexhibit the desirable properties of SEQ ID NO:1, for example, suchpartial reversion variants can have equivalent expression of MUT from avector inserted into an appropriate host, as SEQ ID NO: 1. For example,the invention includes nucleic acids in which at least about 1 alteredcodon, at least about 2 altered codons, at least about 3, alteredcodons, at least about 4 altered codons, at least about 5 alteredcodons, at least about 6 altered codons, at least about 7 alteredcodons, at least about 8 altered codons, at least about 9 alteredcodons, at least about 10 altered codons, at least about 11 alteredcodons, at least about 12 altered codons, at least about 13 alteredcodons, at least about 14 altered codons, at least about 15 alteredcodons, at least about 16 altered codons, at least about 17 alteredcodons, at least about 18 altered codons, at least about 20 alteredcodons, at least about 25 altered codons, at least about 30 alteredcodons, at least about 35 altered codons, at least about 40 alteredcodons, at least about 50 altered codons, at least about 55 alteredcodons, at least about 60 altered codons, at least about 65 alteredcodons, at least about 70 altered codons, at least about 75 alteredcodons, at least about 80 altered codons, at least about 85 alteredcodons, at least about 90 altered codons, at least about 95 alteredcodons, at least about 100 altered codons, at least about 110 alteredcodons, at least about 120 altered codons, at least about 130 alteredcodons, at least about 130 altered codons, at least about 140 alteredcodons, at least about 150 altered codons, at least about 160 alteredcodons, at least about 170 altered codons, at least about 180 alteredcodons, at least about 190 altered codons, at least about 200 alteredcodons, at least about 220 altered codons, at least about 240 alteredcodons, at least about 260 altered codons, at least about 280 alteredcodons, at least about 300 altered codons, at least about 320 alteredcodons, at least about 340 altered codons, at least about 360 alteredcodons, at least about 380 altered codons, at least about 400 alteredcodons, at least about 420 altered codons, at least about 440 alteredcodons, at least about 460 altered codons, or at least about 480 of thealtered codon positions in SEQ ID NO:1 are reverted to native codonsaccording to SEQ ID NO:3, an alternate codon sequence for an amino acidsequence as shown in FIG. 1, or to SEQ ID NO:3 containing SNPs (alleles)as noted in Table 1, and having equivalent expression to SEQ ID NO:1.Alternately, at least about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%,35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100%of the altered codon positions in SEQ ID NO:1 are reverted to nativesequence according to SEQ ID NO:3, an alternate codon sequence for anamino acid sequence as shown in FIG. 1, or to SEQ ID NO:3 containingSNPs as noted in Table 1, and having equivalent expression to SEQ IDNO:1.

In some embodiments, polynucleotides of the present invention do notshare 100% identity with SEQ ID NO:3. In other words, in someembodiments, polynucleotides having 100% identity with SEQ ID NO:3 areexcluded from the embodiments of the present invention.

The synthetic polynucleotide can be composed of DNA and/or RNA or amodified nucleic acid, such as a peptide nucleic acid, and could beconjugated for improved biological properties.

Therapy

In another aspect, the invention comprises a method of treating adisease or condition mediated by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. The diseaseor condition can, in one embodiment, be methylmalonic acidemia (MMA).This method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof asynthetic methylmalonyl-CoA mutase polynucleotide construct comprisingthe synthetic polynucleotides (synMUT) described herein. The MUT enzymeis processed after transcription, translation, and translocation intothe mitochondrial inner space. During this importation and maturationprocess, amino acids 1-32 are removed to produce the mature MUT peptide,comprised of residues 33-750. Thus, in another embodiment, the inventionincludes the portion of the synMUT enzyme located inside themitochondrial matrix, specifically, residues 33-750 corresponding tonucleotides 62-2250 of synMUT, attached to a carrier, synthetic orheterologous mitochondrial leader sequence, charged or lipophilic smallmolecule to direct toward the mitochondria; conjugated or covalentlymodified to a peptide that targets the mitochondrial matrix; orencapsulated to deliver this fragment of synMUT to a subcellularorganelle, cell type or tissue.

Enzyme replacement therapy consists of administration of the functionalenzyme (methylmalonyl-CoA mutase) to a subject in a manner so that theenzyme administered will catalyze the reactions in the body that thesubject's own defective or deleted enzyme cannot. In enzyme therapy, thedefective enzyme can be replaced in vivo or repaired in vitro using thesynthetic polynucleotide according to the invention. The functionalenzyme molecule can be isolated or produced in vitro, for example.Methods for producing recombinant enzymes in vitro are known in the art.In vitro enzyme expression systems include, without limitation,cell-based systems (bacterial (for example, Escherichia coli,Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens), yeast (for example,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia Pastoris), insect cell (for example,Baculovirus-infected insect cells, non-lytic insect cell expression),and eukaryotic systems (for example, Leishmania)) and cell-free systems(using purified RNA polymerase, ribosomes, tRNA, ribonucleotides). Viralin vitro expression systems are likewise known in the art. The enzymeisolated or produced according to the above-iterated methods exhibits,in specific embodiments, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or 100% homologyto the naturally occurring (for example, human) methylmalonyl-CoAmutase.

Gene therapy can involve in vivo gene therapy (direct introduction ofthe genetic material into the cell or body) or ex vivo gene transfer,which usually involves genetically altering cells prior toadministration. In one aspect, genome editing, or genome editing withengineered nucleases (GEEN) may be performed with the synMUT nucleotidesof the present invention allowing synMUT DNA to be inserted, replaced,or removed from a genome using artificially engineered nucleases. Anyknown engineered nuclease may be used such as Zinc finger nucleases(ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), theCRISPR/Cas system, and engineered meganuclease re-engineered homingendonucleases. Alternately, the nucleotides of the present inventionincluding synMUT, in combination with a CASP/CRISPR, ZFN, or TALEN canbe used to engineer correction at the locus in a patient's cell eitherin vivo or ex vivo, then, in one embodiment, use that corrected cell,such as a fibroblast or lymphoblast, to create an iPS or other stem cellfor use in cellular therapy.

Administration/Delivery and Dosage Forms

Routes of delivery of a synthetic methylmalonyl-Co-A mutase (MUT)polynucleotide according to the invention may include, withoutlimitation, injection (systemic or at target site), for example,intradermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intraocular,subretinal, renal artery, hepatic vein, intramuscular injection;physical, including ultrasound(-mediated transfection), electricfield-induced molecular vibration, electroporation, transfection usinglaser irradiation, photochemical transfection, gene gun (particlebombardment); parenteral and oral (including inhalation aerosols and thelike). Related methods include using genetically modified cells,antisense therapy, and RNA interference.

Vehicles for delivery of a synthetic methylmalonyl-CoA mutasepolynucleotide (synMUT) according to the invention may include, withoutlimitation, viral vectors (for example, AAV, adenovirus, baculovirus,retrovirus, lentivirus, foamy virus, herpes virus, Moloney murineleukemia virus, Vaccinia virus, and hepatitis virus) and non-viralvectors (for example, naked DNA, mini-circules, liposomes,ligand-polylysine-DNA complexes, nanoparticles, cationic polymers,including polycationic polymers such as dendrimers, synthetic peptidecomplexes, artificial chromosomes, and polydispersed polymers). Thus,dosage forms contemplated include injectables, aerosolized particles,capsules, and other oral dosage forms.

In certain embodiments, the vector used for gene therapy comprises anexpression cassette. The expression cassette may, for example, consistof a promoter, the synthetic polynucleotide, and a polyadenylationsignal. Viral promoters include, for example, the ubiquitouscytomegalovirus immediate early (CMV-IE) promoter, the chickenbeta-actin (CBA) promoter, the simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter, the Roussarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV-LTR) promoter, the Moloneymurine leukemia virus (MoMLV) LTR promoter, and other retroviral LTRpromoters. The promoters may vary with the type of viral vector used andare well-known in the art.

In one specific embodiment, synMUT could be placed under thetranscriptional control of a ubiquitous or tissue-specific promoter,with a 5′ intron, polyadenylation signal, and mRNA stability element,such as the woodchuck post-transcriptional regulatory element. The useof a tissue-specific promoter can restrict unwanted transgeneexpression, as well as facilitate persistent transgene expression. Thetherapeutic transgene could then be delivered as coated or naked DNAinto the systemic circulation, portal vein, or directly injected into atissue or organ, such as the liver or kidney. In addition to the liveror kidney, the brain, pancreas, eye, heart, lungs, bone marrow, andmuscle may constitute targets for therapy. Other tissues or organs maybe additionally contemplated as targets for therapy.

In another embodiment, the same synMUT expression construct could bepackaged into a viral vector, such as an adenoviral vector, retroviralvector, lentiviral vector, or adeno-associated viral vector, anddelivered by various means into the systemic circulation, portal vein,or directly injected into a tissue or organ, such as the liver orkidney. In addition to the liver or kidney, the brain, pancreas, eye,heart, lungs, bone marrow, and muscle may constitute targets fortherapy. Other tissues or organs may be additionally contemplated astargets for therapy.

Tissue-specific promoters include, without limitation, Apo A-I, ApoE,hAAT, transthyretin, liver-enriched activator, albumin, PEPCK, andRNAP_(II) promoters (liver), PAI-1, ICAM-2 (endothelium), MCK, SMCα-actin, myosin heavy-chain, and myosin light-chain promoters (muscle),cytokeratin 18, CFTR (epithelium), GFAP, NSE, Synapsin I,Preproenkephalin, dβH, prolactin, and myelin basic protein promoters(neuronal), and ankyrin, α-spectrin, globin, HLA-DRα, CD4, glucose6-phosphatase, and dectin-2 promoters (erythroid).

Regulable promoters (for example, ligand-inducible or stimulus-induciblepromoters) are also contemplated for expression constructs according tothe invention.

In yet another embodiment, synMUT could be used in ex vivo applicationsvia packaging into a retro- or lentiviral vector to create anintegrating vector that could be used to permanently correct any celltype from a patient with MUT deficiency. The synMUT-transduced andcorrected cells could then be used as a cellular therapy. Examples mightinclude CD34+ stem cells, primary hepatocytes, or fibroblasts derivedfrom patients with MUT deficiency. Fibroblasts could be reprogrammed toother cell types using iPS methods well known to practitioners of theart. In yet another embodiment, synMUT could be recombined using genomicengineering techniques that are well known to practitioners of the art,such as ZFNs and TALENS, into the MUT locus, a genomic safe harbor site,such as AAVS1, or into another advantageous location, such as into rDNA,the albumin locus, GAPDH, or a suitable expressed pseudogene.

A composition (pharmaceutical composition) for treating an individual bygene therapy may comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a vectorcomprising the synMUT transgenes or a viral particle produced by orobtained from same. The pharmaceutical composition may be for human oranimal usage. Typically, a physician will determine the actual dosagewhich will be most suitable for an individual subject, and it will varywith the age, weight, and response of the particular individual.

The composition may, in specific embodiments, comprise apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient, or adjuvant.Such materials should be non-toxic and should not interfere with theefficacy of the transgene. Pharmaceutically acceptable excipientsinclude, but are not limited to, liquids such as water, saline,glycerol, sugars and ethanol. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can alsobe included therein, for example, mineral acid salts such ashydrochlorides, hydrobromides, phosphates, sulfates, and the like; andthe salts of organic acids such as acetates, propionates, malonates,benzoates, and the like. Additionally, auxiliary substances, such aswetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, and the like,may be present in such vehicles. A thorough discussion ofpharmaceutically acceptable excipients is available in Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences [Mack Pub. Co., 18th Edition, Easton, Pa.(1990)]. The choice of pharmaceutical carrier, excipient, or diluent canbe selected with regard to the intended route of administration andstandard pharmaceutical practice. The pharmaceutical compositions maycomprise as, or in addition to, the carrier, excipient, or diluent anysuitable binder(s), lubricant(s), suspending agent(s), coating agent(s),solubilizing agent(s), and other carrier agents that may aid or increasethe viral entry into the target site (such as for example a lipiddelivery system). For oral administration, excipients such as starch orlactose may be used. Flavoring or coloring agents may be included, aswell. For parenteral administration, a sterile aqueous solution may beused, optionally containing other substances, such as salts ormonosaccharides to make the solution isotonic with blood.

A composition according to the invention may be administered alone or incombination with at least one other agent, such as a stabilizingcompound, which may be administered in any sterile, biocompatiblepharmaceutical carrier, including, but not limited to, saline, bufferedsaline, dextrose, and water. The compositions may be administered to apatient alone, or in combination with other agents, modulators, or drugs(e.g., antibiotics).

The composition may be in a variety of forms. These include, forexample, liquid, semi-solid and solid dosage forms, such as liquidsolutions (e.g., injectable and infusible solutions), dispersions orsuspensions, tablets, pills, powders, liposomes and suppositories.Additional dosage forms contemplated include: in the form of asuppository or pessary; in the form of a lotion, solution, cream,ointment or dusting powder; by use of a skin patch; in capsules orovules; in the form of elixirs, solutions, or suspensions; in the formof tablets or lozenges.

Examples

Cell Culture Studies:

A synthetic codon-optimized human methylmalonyl-Co-A mutase gene(synMUT) was engineered using an iterative approach, wherein thenaturally occurring MUT cDNA (NCBI Reference Sequence: NM_000255.31 wasoptimized codon by codon to create synMUT (FIG. 2) using OptimumGene™codon optimization software (Genscript Inc) that incorporates criticalfactors involved in protein expression, such as codon adaptability, mRNAstructure, and various cis-elements in transcription and translation.The resulting sequence that was selected had the maximal divergence fromthe MUT cDNA at the nucleotide level yet retained optimally utilizedcodons at each position.

To improve the expression of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and create avector that could express the human MUT gene in a more efficientfashion, synMUT was cloned using restriction endonuclease excision andDNA ligation into an expression vector under the control of the chickenβ-actin promoter (Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther 18:11-6). The constructexpressing either the full-length MUT or the full-length synMUT was thentransfected into 293FT cells using Lipofectamine™ (Life Technologies).Cloning and transfection methods are well understood by practitioners ofthe art (Sambrook, Fritsch, Maniatis. Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual). After 48 hours, cellular protein was extracted from thetransfected cells and evaluated for methylmalonyl-CoA mutase proteinexpression using Western analysis (Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther18:11-6). The results show that synMUT is transcribed and translated asor more efficiently than MUT (FIG. 6). FIG. 6 shows expression of MUTprotein following transfection of HEK-293 cells in vitro with synMUT.FIG. 6(A) shows schematic of the expression constructs prepared asdescribed in Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther 18:11-6. Figure (B) showsHEK-293 cells transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP), humancodon optimized methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (labeled CBA-synMUT) or humanmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase (labeled CBA-MUT) expression construct. Cellstransfected with CBA-synMUT exhibited a significant increase in theexpression of MUT in comparison to cells transfected with GFP orCBA-MUT.

Gene Therapy in Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase Knock-Out (Mut^(−/−)) Mice.

The targeted Mut allele harbors a deletion of exon 3 in the Mut gene.This exon encodes the putative substrate-binding pocket in the Mutenzyme. The Mut allele does not produce mature RNA, protein, orenzymatic activity. Mut^(−/−) mice (mice having the Mut gene knocked out(disrupted or replaced) on a mixed (C57BL/6x[129SV/Ev x FvBN])background exhibit a semipenetrant neonatal lethal phenotype, with mostmice perishing in the early neonatal period. In the instant example, theMut^(−/−) (methylmalonyl-CoA mutase knockout) mouse is also referred toas the mouse with MMA.

Mut^(−/−) mice display massively elevated methylmalonic acidconcentrations in the plasma that progressively rises to the 2 mmol/Lrange, until death occurs. Mut^(+/−) animals have biochemical parametersidentical to Mut^(+/+) wild-type animals and were used as controlsthroughout. This animal model of MMA, therefore, recapitulates theseverest form of the human condition—mut^(o) methylmalonic acidemia.

The synMUT polynucleotide was then used to construct a series of novelgene therapy vectors to treat mice with MMA. One vector is designed toexpress synMUT in the liver of the MMA mouse and used to make arecombinant adeno-associated viral vector.

The AAV2/8-HCR-hAAT-RBG vector contains transcriptional control elementsfrom the hepatic control region (HCR) and human alpha antitrypsinpromoter (hAAT), cloning sites for the insertion of a complementary DNA,and the rabbit β-globin polyadenylation (RBG) signal (FIG. 7). Terminalrepeats from AAV serotype 2 flank the expression cassette. The humancodon-optimized methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (synMUT) was cloned intoAAV2-HCR-hAAT-RBG and packaged into rAAV8 as previously described(Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther 18:11-6), purified by cesium chloridecentrifugation, and titered by qPCR to make the AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT-RBGvector as previously described (Chandler, et al. 2010 Mol Ther 18:11-6;Carrillo-Carrasco, et al. 2010 Hum Gene Ther 21:1147-54). Animal studieswere reviewed and approved by the National Human Genome ResearchInstitute Animal User Committee. Hepatic injections were performed onnon-anesthetized neonatal mice, typically within several hours afterbirth. Viral particles were diluted to a total volume of 20 microliterswith phosphate-buffered saline immediately before injection and weredelivered into the liver parenchyma using a 32-gauge needle andtransdermal approach, as previously described.

Treatment with synMUT polynucleotide delivered using an AAV(adeno-associated virus) rescued the Mut^(−/−) mice from neonatallethality (FIG. 8), improved their growth, and lowered the levels ofplasma methylmalonic acid in the blood (FIG. 9). This establishes thepre-clinical efficacy of synMUT as a treatment for MMA in vivo,including in other animal models, as well as in humans. FIG. 8 showsincreased survival of Mut mice following treatment withAAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT. Mut mice received a single intra-hepatic injectionof 1×10¹¹ GC of AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT at birth. All of the treated Mutmice survived until day 30 and appeared normal relative to unaffectedlittermates. At day 30, a single treated Mut mouse was sacrificed toevaluate the in vivo expression of MUT (see FIG. 9). FIG. 9 showsmetabolic correction after AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT gene therapy. Asignificant reduction in the plasma MMA levels on day of life 90 weredocumented in Mut mice that received a single intra-hepatic injection of1×10¹¹ GC of AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT at birth.

A single treated Mut^(−/−) mouse was sacrificed at 30 days aftertreatment with AAV2/8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT-RBG to evaluate in vivo expressionof MUT (FIG. 10). FIG. 10 shows hepatic expression of MUT in a rescuedMut mouse following treatment with AAV8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT. The liver ofthe treated Mut mouse maintained a significant amount of MUT expression30 days after treatment with AAV8-hAAT-synMUT, but less than that ofuntreated wild-type mice (Mut^(+/−)). By comparison, the liver of anuntreated Mut mouse exhibited no detectable MUT protein.

It was observed that the liver of the treated Mut^(−/−) mousedemonstrated continued expression of MUT at 30 days after treatment withAAV2/8-HCR-hAAT-synMUT-RBG, but less than that of untreated wild-typemice (Mut^(+/+)). The untreated Mut^(−/−) mouse exhibited no detectableMUT protein expression.

Safety Study in Mice.

AAV genotoxicity, specifically hepatocarcinoma (HCC) in mice followingAAV gene delivery, has been reported raising concerns about the safetyof AAV gene therapy. We observed a similar increase in the occurrence ofHCC following the treatment of mice with an AAV8-CBA-MUT we designed(FIG. 11). However, we do not observe any significant increase in theoccurrence of HCC when mice are treated in a similar manner withAAV8-hAAT-synMUT. The data demonstrate that the AAV8-hAAT-synMUT is lessgenotoxic and has a better safety profile than that AAV8-CBA-MUT. Thesefindings suggest that AAV8-hAAT-synMUT is a potentially safer AAVconstruct for human clinical trials.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A method of treating a disease or conditionmediated by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, comprising administering to asubject in need thereof a therapeutic amount of a methylmalonyl-CoAmutase produced using a synthetic methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT)polynucleotide (synMUT) selected from the group consisting of: (a) apolynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; and(b) a codon-optimized polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide havinga nucleic acid sequence with at least about 80% identity to the nucleicacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and encoding a polypeptide according to SEQID NO:2, and having equivalent expression in a host to either SEQ IDNO:1 expression or SEQ ID NO:3 expression, wherein the codon-optimizedpolynucleotide having at least about 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:1 doesnot have the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the disease or condition is methylmalonic academia(MMA).
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the polynucleotide has atleast about 90% identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.18. The method of claim 15, wherein the polynucleotide has at leastabout 95% identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the polynucleotide has at least about 97%identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the polynucleotide has at least about 99% identity tothe nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 21. The method of claim 15,wherein the synthetic methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT) polynucleotideexhibits increased expression in an appropriate host relative to theexpression SEQ ID NO:3 in an appropriate host.
 22. The method of claim21, wherein the synthetic polynucleotide having increased expressioncomprises a nucleic acid sequence comprising codons that have beenoptimized relative to the naturally occurring human methylmalonyl-CoAmutase polynucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3).
 23. The method of claim21, wherein the nucleic acid sequence has at least about 70% of lesscommonly used codons replaced with more commonly used codons.
 24. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is formulatedwith a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 25. The method of claim 15,wherein the administering of the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase comprisesadministering an expression vector comprising the syntheticmethylmalonyl-CoA mutase polynucleotide and expression of thepolynucleotide in the subject.